my biggest problem with the rankings is the ranking numbers. The ranking should be done in bands. The difference between a 23 and a 26 rank on the US News list could be just one point. Because of ties… If there are 3 schools at 23, the next school is ranked 26.
The other problem I have is the self-fulfilling prophecy of the rankings. The guidance counselor rankings play a part, and the more competitive the school is to get into, the better the school is perceived by the counselor and student. Thus they get a better score from the counselor the next year, therefore increasing in the rankings.
All had said I think you folks care more about the rankings than Tufts does. I don’t think they’ve ever been very concerned about it to be honest. They turn away 4.0, 36 act kids in favor of lower “ranked” students all the time. If they cared about the ranking game, they wouldn’t do that. It hasn’t really changed the perceived quality of the school. “Tufts syndrome” wasn’t invented in a vacuum. Boston is hot hot hot. I’m guessing they don’t care about a ranking of three points below then what they could be. Good for them.